The Vegas Golden Knights head to Anaheim for Game 3 on Friday night with their second-round series against the Ducks tied 1-1, but two lackluster home performances have left the team searching for answers. While John Tortorella was hired late in the season to right the ship, the veteran coach knows the solution lies within the locker room.
“We’re not down in the series right now, but we’ve got to find our game and we have not done that,” Tortorella said. “That’s incumbent on us as a coaching staff to try and give them the right information and as a group, to try to find it.”
The Golden Knights roster is loaded with Stanley Cup champions, Olympic gold medalists, and proven stars. Tortorella, who replaced Bruce Cassidy 16 games ago, recognizes that his approach must differ from what he’d use with a younger team.
“I respect this group,” Tortorella said. “How I coach this group is totally different from how I would coach a younger team that’s just starting to go through it, so I need to show them that respect. But points will be made.”
Areas of concern include losing puck battles in the offensive zone, allowing opponents free access to the front of the net, and taking too many penalties. Tortorella declined to reveal specifics, saying, “There’s one in my head, yes. But I’m not going to put it in yours.”
He may adjust lines or make lineup changes, but ultimately the players must elevate their game. The Knights are just two games removed from a dominant Game 6 win to close out Utah in the first round, and they overcame a 2-1 series deficit in that round.
“We went through it in the first round,” Tortorella said. “We went through it during the regular season a little bit in some games. I have the utmost trust, but it’s my job to coach the team and how we’re playing. I have a number of things in my head that need to be brought to attention here really quickly before we do put ourselves in a really bad spot.”
Tortorella spent the off day studying film after a sleepless night following Game 2. He will deliver a message to the team before puck drop, but once the game starts, it’s up to the players to execute.
